Ordinary people do extraordinary things everyday. But usually, heroes in the black community don’t always receive the widespread recognition they deserve. So we decided to look back over the past decade of the new millennium and acknowledge some African Americans, who may not be as popular by name as others, who have influenced, shaped and re-invented our hopes and standards across the board.
Lisa Price
Lisa Price has discovered just how sweet success can be. Since the late 90s, her homemade products have attracted a substantial clientele that includes big names in media and entertainment such as Jada Pinkett-Smith, Erykah Badu, Mary J. Blige and Oprah. She’s been focused on creating an empire out of her signature line, Carol’s Daughter, a strategy that has inked a deal to sell her products in Sephora and Macy’s stores, and led to the opening of a second store in 2005 in Harlem (her first store opened in Brooklyn in 1999). A few years ago, she accomplished a feat that is rare for a homegrown business by an African-American entrepreneur—her company opened two mall stores, one in Roosevelt Field in Garden City, N.Y. and another at Newport Center in Jersey City.
Colin Powell
Colin Powell made history in 2001 when he became the first African American appointed to the position of Secretary of State during the George W. Bush administration. Though he is a republican, he hasn’t always seen eye to eye with members of his party and the decisions they’ve made. It was no secret that he did not agree with former president Bush’s choice to invade Iraq. Powell also criticized the government’s response to Hurricane Katrina, noting how thousands of people were not properly protected. During the 2008 elections, despite having made a donation to John McCain’s campaign, Powell endorsed Barack Obama nearly a month before the elections were held. Going forward, we know Powell will not hesitate to voice his concerns when the federal government is abusing their authority.
Geoffrey Canada
There’s been plenty of talk about education reform lately, but Geoffrey Canada is one person who has been all action for at least 20 years. The President and Chief Executive Officer of the Harlem Children’s Zone oversees what The New York Times Magazine called “one of the most ambitious social experiments of our time.” The community-based organization focuses on ending generational poverty by promoting educational excellence from early childhood through college. It began a network of programs within a 24-block area in 2001 and expanded into nearly 100 blocks by 2007 and serves more than 17,000 children and 7,400 adults. Several ground-breaking programs have been instituted at the agency, including the Baby College parenting workshops, the Harlem Gems pre-school program, the HCZ Asthma Initiative, which helps families better manage the disease; the Promise Academy, a public charter school; and an obesity program.
Shonda Rhimes
After a five-year stint working on feature films, Shonda Rhimes created what would become an instant hit on the small screen. Grey’s Anatomy, the medical drama she created and executive produces, debuted on ABC as a mid-season replacement in March 2005 and attracted 16.25 million viewers during the first episode. The series is currently in its seventh season. Rhimes also created and executive produces the spin-off of Grey’s Anatomy, Private Practice, currently in its fourth season. There are recent reports that ABC has given the green light for its first pilot of the 2011-12 season—a presently untitled project written by Rhimes. Time magazine named her in May 2007 as one of their Time 100 people who’ve helped shaped the world.
Cory Booker
Since assuming the role of Mayor of Newark, N.J. in 2006, Cory Booker has been working tirelessly to revitalize the city. Within four years, his administration has made meaningful strides towards that goal: as of July 1, 2008, Newark led the nation among large cities for reductions in shootings and murders, a decrease of more than 40 percent in both categories. His administration is committed to a $40 million transformation of parks and playgrounds, and is fighting for reform of Newark’s education system. The administration has also doubled affordable housing production within the last two years.
Joining the green movement may initially have been the last thing on people’s minds during a struggling economy, but Phaedra Ellis-Lamkins has proven that there is no better time than the present to get involved. Ellis-Lamkins is the Chief Executive Officer for Green For All, an Oakland-based nonprofit that advocates for a clean-energy economy and organizes minority and low-income communities to press for green jobs. Under her leadership, she’s secured funding for job training, helped states like Washington and New Mexico pioneer state-level green jobs and energy efficient programs, and is assisting cities like Portland and Seattle to craft energy-efficient home retrofit programs.
Kamala Harris
Kamala Harris has been solidifying her place in the history books since 2003 when she was elected the first African-American and South Asian American woman to become District Attorney in San Francisco’s history. Within two terms, her office has increased conviction rates for serious and violent offenses, expanded services to victims of crime and their families, and doubled its trial conviction rate for gun felonies to 90 percent. She made history again on November 2, 2010 when she was elected California Attorney General, a role for which she will be the first African American and South Asian American woman in California. She assumes her position on January 3, 2011.
Barack Obama
Who would’ve believed prior to 2008 that a biracial community organizer from Chicago would break the highest racial barrier in this country and become the first African-American president of the United States? The former U.S. senator from Illinois resonated with voters across ages and races with his call for change in Washington, reminding them that he too had a middle-class upbringing in a strong family and believes in hard work and education. Despite being met with constant criticism, Obama has successfully spearheaded a number of initiatives, including passing health care reform and most recently, repealing the ‘don’t ask don’t tell’ law. Even more so, it’s been refreshing to see a strong, positive Black family in the White House.
Aaron McGruder
Comedy and controversy went hand in hand over the last ten years, and Aaron McGruder is one person to thank for that (besides Dave Chappelle). His national syndicated comic strip, The Boondocks, became a hit animated series for the Adult Swim network when it premiered in November 2005. The series centers around The Freeman family—ten-year old Huey, his eight-year-old brother Riley, and their grandfather Robert, and has received much attention for its intelligent and sharp social satire of American culture and race. The series concluded its third season in August but as of yet, there is no word on a fourth season.
Condolezza Rice
Condolezza Rice succeeded Colin Powell and became the 66th and first African American woman Secretary of State in 2005. In her role, she pioneered the idea of “Transformational Diplomacy,” which sought to redistribute U.S. diplomats to areas of severe social and political trouble to address issues including disease, drug smuggling and human trafficking. She also helped to successfully negotiate several agreements in the Middle East. Her most noted negotiation was the signing of the 123 agreement, which would allow civil nuclear trade between the U.S. and India. After her term ended in January 2009, Rice returned to Stanford University and has become a faculty member of the Stanford Graduate School of Business and director of its Global Center for Business and the Economy.
